Lutheran acceptance of gay pastors

As a former Lutheran, I read with interest the story in the Sunday Patriot-News (Aug. 23) about the move by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America toward acceptance of gay and lesbian pastors who are in committed relationships. Previously, a pastor could be gay but was forbidden to have a loving, intimate relationship and still serve the church as a pastor.

Before Lutherans start popping the cork to celebrate this move toward human dignity, I would hope they recognize the number of human tragedies this church has inflicted during the last eight years while it "studied" the issues and did what all political institutions do -- try to wear down the opposition -- an opposition that has resorted to cherry-picking biblical references in order to support their discrimination.

For example, one former colleague made the agonizing decision to leave the ranks of the ordained rather than give up a committed relationship. Who else in this society is forced to make a decision between being loved and being called?

Many Christian people try to live by Jesus' example. I dare say, if the reality of sexual orientation was known during Jesus' ministry, he would not have taken eight years to lead his followers to a resolution that treated everyone equally. Justice delayed is justice denied.